If you have a child with a food allergy, major weather events or disasters could affect how you manage their food allergy in unexpected ways. When events like wildfires, tornadoes, severe flooding, or earthquakes occur, you may not be able to easily get safe food for your child.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) includes 18 natural hazards to be aware of:

• Avalanche
• Coastal flooding
• Cold wave
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Hail
• Heat wave
• Hurricane
• Ice storm
• Landslide
• Lightning
• River flooding
• Strong wind
• Tornado
• Tsunami
• Volcanic activity
• Wildfire
• Winter weather

Many of these are common in various parts of the U.S. and don’t always cause major issues. But some of them may have a temporary effect on local food supplies. More serious events may have a more long-term impact, such as evacuations.

Any of these events could leave you without critical items for your child with food allergies, such as medicines and safe food. If you live in an area that may see major impacts from a natural hazard, you’ll want to be prepared before an emergency hits.

Create an Emergency Kit

Building an emergency kit that's always ready to grab and go is an easy way to prepare. Keep it in a safe place where you can get to it fast.

What should you put in an emergency kit? That depends on your child's medical and food allergy needs, as well as the types of emergencies that are most likely to occur in your area.

Here are some options to consider. It is not a complete list. But it will help get you started.

• Medicines and medical supplies
• Safe food that does not contain your child’s food allergen
• Medical foods and formula
• Water
• Other supplies you may find helpful

1. Medicines and medical supplies

Make sure you have enough of your child's medicines on hand at all times.

This includes daily medicines, such as:

• Emergency medicines, such as epinephrine in case of anaphylaxis
• Allergy medicines such as antihistamines and nasal sprays
• Oral immunotherapy doses
• Asthma inhalers and spacer or nebulizer and extra supplies
• Eczema creams
• Biologic medicines (may need to be kept cool)
• Any other medicines prescribed by your child's doctor

If your child takes compounded medicines (medicine custom-mixed by a special pharmacy), include those as well. This may even include pain medicine and fever reducers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

The American Red Cross recommends including a 7-day supply of medicines in your emergency kit. Label the kit with the date of the first medicine to expire and check the kit frequently. Your pharmacist may be able to give you extra labels and vials so that all medicines are properly labeled.

It's also a good idea to include basic first aid supplies with bandages, antibiotic cream, nitrile gloves, N95 masks, etc. If someone in your family is allergic to latex, make sure your kit is latex free.

For children with feeding tubes, include formula or special medical foods, extra tube supplies and formula bags. Make note of the expiration dates and check them often. Parents of children with feeding tubes recommend having a spare pump that is fully charged. Or get a power supply that can plug into your car to charge your pump or a small house generator.

2. Safe food

It may be hard to feed your child safely in an emergency. Food provided by shelters, the American Red Cross, churches, and other organizations during an emergency may not be safe for your child. Even if the ingredients are safe, there may be the potential for cross-contact with their food allergens.

FEMA recommends at least 3 days' worth of non-perishable food. You may need more for the types of natural hazards that occur in your area. Make sure you have some safe food before an emergency strikes. Keep it in a box or bag so you can grab it when you need it and not have to look for it.

You may not have access to a stove, oven, or microwave. So it's best to stock up on safe foods that do not need cooking.

Include a few treats or fun foods as well to help ease stressful situations for your child. Do not worry about balanced meals during this time. Just think about filling hungry tummies.

Here are some foods that might work in an emergency kit, depending on your child’s food allergy or dietary needs:

• Special medical foods and formulas
• Proteins: beef jerky, sunflower/soy/pea/peanut/other no-nut or seed butter, tuna pouches, Spam™, canned beans, canned chicken, canned ham
• Grains: cereal, oatmeal, crackers, trail mix, cereal bars
• Produce: canned fruit, canned vegetables, applesauce
• Snacks/treats: fruit snacks/leathers, chips, pretzels, cookies, candy, non-perishable fruit pouches or fruit cups
• Drinks: juice pouches, bottled water
• Other supplies: disposable plates and cups, plastic ware, manual can opener
• Pets: supply of safe food, their medicines, and bowls

Check the kit often for expired foods and replace them with a fresh supply.

3. Water

Disasters can affect water supplies in different ways. Flooding can cause contamination.
Power outages can knock out water treatment plants or well pumps. Earthquakes can damage underground pipes.

You may not be able to use tap water for drinking, washing hands, flushing toilets, brushing teeth, and doing dishes.

The American Red Cross recommends storing 1 gallon of water per person per day. That means a 3-day supply for evacuations and a 2-week supply if you are stuck at home. For a family of 3, that equals at least 9 gallons of water, and maybe more.

4. Other supplies you may find helpful

Along with medicines, food and water, there are other supplies you can add to your kit.

• Flashlights
• Extra batteries (charged and ready) for feeding pumps, nebulizers, flashlights, etc.
• Hand wipes for cleaning hands, faces, and surfaces
• Disposable diapers and wipes, as it may not be possible to wash cloth versions
• Safe diaper cream, soap, shampoo, etc.
• Chargers for cell phones
• A written list of contacts (doctors, family, etc.) in the event that phones run out of charge and power is out
• A copy of your child's emergency action plan
• Medical alert contact information, if you use such a service
• Plastic bags for trash, contaminated clothing, and supplies
• Change of clothing for each member of the family
• Small non-electronic games or toys to keep kids occupied without power

Resources for Preparing for Emergencies

For more help preparing for an emergency in your area, visit these sites:

• The American Red Cross
• FEMA
• USDA Food Safety Tips
  
• EPA Fire and Smoke Map
• CDC Heath and Health Index